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CA Hunger Strike focuses attention on design of solitary confinement
This has been a big day (and week) for ADPSR in the media. The massive hunger strike in California prisons that began 12 days ago has finally brought mainstream media attention to the human rights...
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The view of the SHU
I just received this very special drawing from a family member of a man in California’s Pelican Bay State Prison “Security Housing Unit.” It’s of part of the prison that I have been trying to...
View ArticleMore media for Human Rights
The past few weeks ahve seen a great deal of interest in ADPSR's proposal to reform the AIA code of ethics. While journalists strive to be objective, I think you can often see a journalists personal...
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ADPSR Supports Equality for Women in AIA Awards
The ADPSR board of directors is in whole-hearted agreement with the authors of this petition. It is shocking that the over sixty years that AIA has been giving its Gold Medal award, they have not...
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A conversation with "justice architects" - part 2
Following the introduction, other participants shared their thoughts. This is my summary: At least one AIA national director is aware of this proposal and had contacted the AAJ Advisory Group for...
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A conversation with "justice architects" - part 1
At the recent conference of the AIA Academy of Architecture for Justice in Portland, OR, a week ago, about 20 AAJ members held an discussion on the topic of ethics, human rights, and justice design....
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ADPSR in the Statehouse!
ADPSR's work was discussed at the California legislature on 10/10/13. We are making an impact! You can see the entire hearing at this link - http://www.calchannel.com/recent-archive/ (see Joint...
View ArticleQ&A on Worker Safety
ADPSR recently received a question about worker safety from a member, and ADPSR Board Member Shawn Hesse responded in great detail. We thought it was worth sharing here:Q: What can architects do to...
View ArticleSend us your drawings of degrading places...
As part of ADPSR's campaign to ban the design of spaces intended to violate human rights, we thought that we should help to educate design professionals and the public about what those spaces are like....
View ArticlePrisons and Urbanism - the Social or the Individual?
The question about better prison design often takes two different forms: can a “better” prison design improve conditions for people in prison, or can it improve the US prison system? One way we see a...
View ArticleCrowdfunding for Human Rights
ADPSR launched our first crowdfunding campaign earlier this week to support our work on human rights and the AIA Code of Ethics. ADPSR does much of its operations on a volunteer basis, with members who...
View ArticleDetails on Human Rights
Earlier today, the ADPSR national board of directors sent a 15-page letter to AIA detailing our proposal to prohibit the design of execution chambers and spaces for prolonged solitary confinement....
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"Sentenced" Exhibition opens at UC Berkeley
After working for over a year soliciting and sourcing material, it's exciting to be able to announce that ADPSR's exhibit "Sentenced: Architecture and Human Rights" is open at the Wurster Gallery at...
View ArticlePetition Update: AIA Responds - Condones Torture and Killing
This post is a copy of the Jan 6th update to supporters of our petition to the AIA.Dear supporters,The American Institute of Architects has responded to our petition, rejecting our proposal to...
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Panama, Prisons, and a journey towards Human Rights
The call from a Panamanian vice minister was a surprise: could I help with their assignment to replace a decrepit, abusive, crumbling old prison with a facility that would allow for real respect for...
View ArticleHuman Rights are not an Antitrust Violation
ADPSR has a strong counterpoint to the rather ridiculous claim that AIA made last year that our human rights proposal could cause antitrust issues for AIA (see here for a reminder). Thanks to pro bono...
View ArticleNew UN "Mandela Rules" on standards for prisoners
As a group long focused on the human rights abuses of American prisons, ADPSR welcomes the recent update of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, which date back to...
View ArticleADPSR submits comments on solitary confinement
In December the American Correctional Association proposed modifying its standards for solitary confinement. It was a series of relatively minor proposed changes, starting with changing the name of the...
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ADPSR Thanks AIA for Reconsidering Human Rights
AIA has informed ADPSR that the AIA National Ethics Council will (re)consider our proposal to prohibit the design of execution chambers and spaces intended for torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading...
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Kudos to Designing Justice + Designing Spaces
Designing Justice + Designing Spaces (DJDS), an organization currently in formation under the fiscal sponsorship of ADPSR, recently received a Thriving Cultures grant from the Surdna Foundation to...
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